Machine for finishing glass tubes, bars, vials, bottles, and the like



March 27, 1928,

L. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 25. 1926 8 s t 1 March 27, i928. 3,664,154

I L. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 23. 1926 8 s t -sh t 2 March 27, 1928. 1,664,154

L. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 23. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 27, 1928. 3,664,154

L. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLE5, ,AND THE LIKE V Filed March 23. 1926 3 s t -$1 4 Maj! ryll'lln llll I I harm M liilz 0 March 27, 1928. I 1,664,154

L. J. BROCHE MACBINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 25. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet '5 March 27, 1928. 1 ,664,154

L. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 23. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 27, 1928. 1,664,154

1.. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 23. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 27, 1928. 1,664,154 .L. J. BROCHE MACHINE FOR FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STA'TES;PATENT" opp- IEON JEAN BBOCHE, OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

' TO KIMIBLE GLASS COMPANY, OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOB FINISHING GLASS TUBES, BARS, VIALS, BOTTLES, THE LIKE. i

' Application filed March 2a, 1926. Serial No. 96,811.

This invention relates to machines for forming and finishing bottles, vials, and Ether articles, from glass tubes, rods. and

ars.

5 Briefly stated; the machine comprises a hopper or container adapted to deliver glass rods, bars or tubes one at a time to paired conveyer screws, each screw having a. continuous thread similarly changing'in pitch at a point intermediate its ends, one screw of each pair bein provided with a righthand thread and t e other with a left-hand thread, and the two screws being arranged to rotate in relatively opposite directions;

means for suitably heating said rods, bars or tubes during their lateral advance, ef-

- fected b the screws; means for applying a longitu inal pulling or compressing force to the bodies so heated, tending to lengthen and reduce, or to compress and expand, the heated and'softened portion or portions of said bodies; means for shaping the heated and softened bodies; means for severing the same; and in the case of tubes, means for closing the two open ends formed by severance of a tube, to produce closed bottoms for bottles, vials, and the like. Other and minor details'will be set forth in the following description.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that this is illustrative only, and i may be varied within the scope of the invention, as experience may sugg st or. good 2.5 engineering shall dictate; In these draw- Figure 1 is a. side elevation of the machine I 4 with the side of the main or supporting W Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view-throu h theconveyer screws and the side beams of t e main or supporting flame-showing meansfor applyini longitudina pressure to; ody;

heated glass I r 5, a top plan View eithegmme parts,

ne a P i of Fig. 16 at a midlengthg gous to Fig, 4, but taken through the bearto ings of, and showing in elevation, the'shaft equipped with weights and with rollers for applylng pressure to a tube on opposite sides of the heated and softened midlengthportion of the tube; Fig. 7 a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6;' I

Fig. 8, an elevation on a lar er scale than 1n the preceding figures, of 'a s ort length of one of the conveyer screws, showing one of the offsets or deflections which cause a rest or dwell in the. feeding action of the tubes, rods or bars while permitting the screws to rotate continuously;

Fig. 9, a fragmentary transverse section showing a pair of conveyer screws and associated devices suitable to the production of thermos-bottles;

Fig. 10, afragmentary transverse section showing two sets of paired conveyer screws, and modified means associated therewith for effecting elongation and consequent reduction in diameter of the previously heated and softened midlength portion of a'tube;

11, an elevation of mechanism for shaping the necks of bottles or vials, showing one of the conveyer screws in cross sectlon; Y

' Fig. 12, a top lan view of said mechanism, lookin in t e direction of the arrows associated with line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13, a longitudinal sectional-view of the upper portion of a, machine generally similar to that of Fig. 1, but having the conveyer screw or screws above instead of below the rods, tubes or bars treated, and

designed for sorting the articles handled and delivering them into one or another-receptacle according to their dimensions;

I Fig. 14, an elevation of a balance or weighing device suitable foruse in a sorting machlne such as illustrated in F1g.]13;'

F1 15, an elevation of a tube both ends of wfiich have been expanded or flanged; I Fig. "16,;a, similar view but showmg the tube elon ated and reduced in diameter in its Fig.17, a like view at one or are...) medicin'e droppers formfl by severing the tube ga perspective view of the framework of the hopper shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 19, a top plan vi .-w showing two pairs of right and left threaded conveyer screws, and means for longitudinally pulling or pressing a rod or tube and severing the same at apoint between its ends;

Fig. 20, a top plan view showing paired conveyer screws, a tube in the form lllllS- trated in Fig. 16 bridging saidscrews, and a second tube of like form having its end portions ofl'setthrough action of said screws; Fig. 21, a top plan view of a machme illustrating another means and mode of pro ducing bent tubes, rods or bars.

In some cases it may and doubtless Wlll be desirable to construct machines designed to perform less than all the operations here set forth, and it is of course to be understood that such simpler structures or sub-combinations of devices are contemplated and will be separately claimed herein.

In the embodiment of my invention here illustrated the mechanism is supported by a main frame comprising parallel side sills or beams 1 overlying and suitably secured to 1 side and end angle bars2 carried by upright legs 3 which may likewise be of angle iron, said legs being here shown as carrying,

tied, and braced at a point near their lower ends by a horizontal platform 4, a diagonal brace being also shown to give greater stiffness or rigidity to the frame. Any equivalent or usual frame construction may of course be adopted. The platform 4 serves as a convenient support for a motor 5 of any suitable type, which supplies motive power to the moving parts of the machine.

Located at the feeding or receiving end of the machine, Fig. 1, is a hopper comprising two parallel horizontal bars 6 and 7, the extremities of which are carried in blocks 8 securedupon the top of the machine frame. The bars 6 and 7 support vertical bars 9 and inclined bars 9*, connected at their upper ends and at the point of junction of the outer bars 9 and inclined bars 9 by suitable cross bars, as illustrated in Fig. 18. To the uprights 9 are secured plates 10 of metal or other suitable material, constitutlng the side walls of the hopper, and serving to prevent longitudinal movement of the glass tubes, rods or bars which rest upon the inclined bars 9 and are held against lateral escape by said inclined bars and the bars 9. Bars 6 and 7, which are parallel to each other, are separated a, distance sulficient to ermit a considerable number of the glass b0 ies contained in the hopper to settle or fall through the bottom of the hopper, and to rest upon the receiving ends of the conveyer screws later referred to, which screws extend beneath and at a right angle to the bars 6 and 7 of the hopper frame.

The bar 7 is furnished, as indicated in Figs.

1, 2, 3 and 18, with vertical screws 11 carrying lock nuts 12, and threaded through suitably tapped holes extending vertically through said bar 7. These screws stand above the conveyer screws, and are adjusted so that their lower ends are at a distance above said conveyer screws sufficient to permit the glass tubes, rods or bars to pass one at a time beneath them when resting upon the receiving ends of the conveyor screws, and to be carried forward in a single layer by said conveyer screws.

Beneath the blocks 8 and supporting the same is a bar 13 extending transversely across the machine frame and bridging the side sills l by which said bar 13 is supported. A similar bar 13 is provided at the end of the machine remote from the hopper. Mounted in bearings carriedby or formed in the cross bars 13 and 18 are journals or cylindrical extensions 14 of conveyer screws 15. In the embodiment now being described four such screws are employed, arranged in parallel relation and in a common horizontal or substantially horizontal plane. Said screws are also here shown and are preferably used, in paired relation; in other words, there are two pairs of screws, one screw of each pair being provided with a right-hand thread or spiral and the other with a lefthand thread or spiral, and the two screws of eachpair are caused to rotate in 'relatively opposite directions about their respective axes. The screws are, except as hereinafter pointed out, of like proportions, and the threads of the screws in corresponding portions thereof, if present, are of like pitch though of reverse spiral. The advantage of using four conveyer screws at the receiving end of the machine resides in the fact that the tubes, rods or bars passing thereover are automatically positioned at right angles to the axes'of the screws, and maintained in such position and parallel to one another.

To effect and ensure opposite rotation of the two screws of each pair, their journals or extensions 14 are provided with intermeshing pinions 16 as best seen in Fig. 3, and to cause the pinions 16 of each pair to be rotated in unison at like speed and in proper direction, intermcshing gears 17 are secured upon the journals of one screw of each pair,the inner or proximate screws under the showing of Fig. 3. Power may be applied to either of the journals carrying the gears 17, or if desired, to both, and this may be transmitted from a suitable source. of power such as the motor 5. In Fig. 1 means for transmitting motion from said motor to one-of, the gears 17 is illustrated," consisting of a shaft 18 which will be journaled in suitable bearings carried by the main frame, the shaft being provided with a pulley or belt-wheel 19 to receive a belt 20 of the need to be cut with reference to its being driven by the worm. In practice, a separate worm-wheel will advisably be provided, but carried by a journal bearing one or the other of the gears 17. Obviously, any common and suitable driving connection between the motor and the driven screw may be employed.

The threadingof the conve er screws is best illustrated in Fig. 3, but t e relation of the screws to the other parts, and their feeding or conveying action may be best understood by reference-to Fig. 1, where the screw there shown will be seen to. comprise. two sections, a relatively short section lying directly beneath the open or delivery portion of the hopper and extending from bar 1-3 to and slightly beyond bar 7 ofv the hopper frame, said section having a thread 21 preferably of V form in cross sectionand of relatively slow itch; and a second section having a threa 3 22 of materially quicker pitch and of relatively broad circumferential face, but constituting a continuation of the initial thread 21, the groove 23 between succe'ssive convolutions of the thread being-in both sections of the, screw of a depth suit-'- able to. receive, and ensuring the. carrying forward of, the articles laid upon and bridging the several screws. The ofiic'e of the screw section having the thread 21 of relatively slow pitch is to afford seats or grooves adapted to receive and hold in compara tively close side relation, 'a series or layer of glass tubes, rods or bars bridging the several screws, and to. simultaneously and. equally advance said tubes, rods or bars by the rotation of the screws. The space betweenthe conveyer screws 15 and the low rends of the regulating screws 11 is suflicient to permit one tube, rod or bar at a. time to ass freely beneath said regulating screws, ut insuflicient'to permit more than one such tube, rod

or bar passing at the sametime. 5

The ofiice of the-screwsections having the quick pitch threads 22 is to'support and move forward more speedily than do the'sec-- tions having the threads 21 of slow pitch, each rod, bar or tube successively reaching the quick pitch section, thereby eiiecting a separation or spacing apart of the successive articles at that point. The purpose of thus separating the articles treated is to present them separately and in succession to the burners orheating devices later'described, in order to soften and render plastic any desired portion of; said articles so that they may tie-shaped or fashioned to predeter- 4 e T den in Fig. Lby the conveyer screw.

mined form.

Another peculiarity of the conveyer screws 15 as seen in Fig. 8, is that at one or more points in the length of one or more 'of said screws an offset 24 is formed in the quick pitch section, this ofl'set being a portion of the screw thread'or groove without pitch or inclination, or in other words running in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the screw.

The oifice of this ofiset 24 is to momentarily arrest the advance of the article lying upon the screw or screws having such offset. This maybe done to afford a short dwell of the tubes over a burner or heater; or again, it may serve to hold at rest one end or portion of such tube, rod or bar while another portion resting upon a screw or screws not having such ofl'set, will be advanced, thus e'flecting a bending or shaping of an intermediate portion of the tube. The oflset 24also serves to hold the tubes at'rest while endwise pressure or force is applied thereto, or while a lip, flange, or other formation is being pro duced upon its ends or at an intermediate directly 0 posite and at the far side of the machine rame-being provided in practice.

These boards are' set a distance a art just suflicient to afford due clearance or glass tubes, rods or 'bars of predetermined and uniform length, in which condition they are laced in the hopper, and the boards serve to ring the ends of successive tubes into alinement so that in their passage through the machine'they shall be presented to succes-- sive burners or heaters in proper position to ensure in each instance,.heating of the por-' tion of the tube requiring softening. Following the alining boards 25 and at the points designated in Fig. 1 bythe numerals 26-and 27, are what may be termed the first and second shaping or forming stations, at which .are located devices now to be described with the aid of Figs. 4 and 5. These devices are alike at the two. stations, but are reversed, or have their co-acting portions transposed with reference to the opposite longitudinal sills of the machine frame. De

scription of this mechanism should, however, be prefaced by the statement that a burner 36 precedes each of the stations26 and 27, to heat and soften the proximate endof each tube in turn as said tubes traverse thespaces between theend-alining boards 25 and the devices for-applying endwise pressure to the tubes at station 26, and between said station and the like apparatus located at station 27.

This burner 86 is shown in Fig. 5 but ishid v Bolted securely to the sill 1 is an upright post or block 35 bored to receive an anvil or abutment 33 preceded, however, by a helical spring 34 through which passes the threaded stem of the anvil carrying on the outer side of the post a nut screwed upon the threaded stem, said stem passing through the outer wall of the cavity in which the spring and anvil are seated. The spring 34 tends constantly to press and hold anvil 33 positioned as in Figs. 4 and 5, with one end protruding a short distance beyond post 35, but said anvil is free to move inward if force sufficient to overcome the resistance of spring 34 be applied to such protruding end. Spring 34 should be adapted to offer suflicient resistance to compression to cause a properly softened tube end pressed against it to be flared or turned radially outward, thus forming an annular lip or flange to retain in place the rubber bulb with which the medi- 'cine droppers being produced are later .equipped. The resistance offered by the spring will, however, be such that undue pressure shall not effect a crushing or breaking'of the tube in the event that it be inade-" quately softened.

As softened or plasticglass has a quite marked tendency to adhere or attach itself to iron and steel, it is advisable to form the anvil 33 of brass or other alloy or metal, to Ivhich the plastic glass does not readily adiere.

To effect a proper endwise pressure of the tube against anvil 33, there is provided apressing head or bunter 28 adjustably mounted in one end of a lever 29 arranged to swing about a vertical pivot rod 30, and carrying at its end remote from the hunter, a roller 31 the axis of which is normally parallel or substantially parallel with that of the'proxirnate conveyer screw 15. Pivot rod 30 is encompassed by a coiled spring 37, the lower end of which is bent sharply and seated in a hole in lever 29, or is otherwise caused to move with said lever, while the other end of said spring is similarly seated in or secured to a cap or disk made fast upon the pivot rod 30 by a set-screw or equivalent means. This. arrangement permits of tensioning spring 37 byrotation of the cap or disk, and maintaining such tension by turning the set-screw to secure the cap or disk in place. The proximate conveyer screw 15 is provided at a p01nt in vertical plane with roller 31 with a cam-like lug or projection 32, conveniently made separate from but seated and secured in a hole or socket in said screw, as shown in Fig. 4. The cam lug or projection may be either screwed into place or secured by a drive fit, said cam being so located in the conveyer screw that it shall come into contact with roller 31 and actuate ,lever 29 at the instant that a tube arrives with its ends in axial alinement with bunter 28 and anvil 33, the conveyer screws by which the tube is advanced to that point having brought the offsets 24 shown in Fig. 8 to a position to arrest the travel of the tube at the same instant that said tube is alined with the hunter and anvil. Rotation of the conveyer screw carries cam 32 against roller 31, thereby rocking lever 29 and carrying forward bunter 28, which applies pressure to the cold end of the tube and presses the opposite heated. and softened end thereof against anvil 33, thereby forming a lateral or radial lip or flange on the tube, as seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 15.

Just as the cam 32 rides past and clear of roller 31, spring 37 restores lever 29 to the position indicated in Fig. 5, and the offsets 24 of the active conveyer screws ride out from under the tube which has just had formed upon one end the lip or flange. As the forward movement of the tube flanged at one end at station 26, is again taken up by the conveyer screws, the tube thus treated reaches and rides along the inclined face 39 of an end-alining board 38 (Fig. 5), which moves said. tube a short distance longitudinally and causes it and following tubes to have their finished ends alined, and their unfinished ends position for heating by the next burner 36 located at the second fianging station 27. As the tubes pass said burner 36 they are acted upon by the second mechanism at said station 27, in all respects like that just described except that the parts are transposed, lever 29 and associated parts be ing placed at station 26 on the sill 1 which in Fig.5 carries the anvil, and the anvil being placed on the sill which in Fig. 5 carries lever 29.

As the tubes again take up their advance after leaving station 27, they pass between two end-alining boards 38 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 so that if any tube or tubes shall have been unduly moved by the single board 38 of Fig. 5,it or they shall be restored to proper position by the second board, and their midlength portions be thereby accurately positioned over the medial line of a heater or burner 41. In this way the tubes during their travel have their forward ends properly cooled, and their midlength portions duly heated and softened to permit shaping of such lnidportion, through elongation and diametrical contraction of said portion, as will now be described in connection with Figs. 1, 6 and 7 As seen in said figures, there is located above screws 15 at a point just beyond the burner or heater 41, apair of presser rolls or disks 44 carried by a shaft 45 provided'with weights 46 to afford due pressure of the rolls upon the tubes, said shaft being seated in open hearings or vertical slots formed in blocks 47 carried or supported by the side sills 1 of the machine rame.

The presser rolls 44 are positioned at opposite sides of the softened midlength ortion of the tube under treatment, an b a.

pressing the respective tube sections into firm contact with one conveyer screw of each pair, turning outwardly at its upper side,

' said rolls cause the screws to move the two inwardly turning screws at the point at which such tube-extending actlon occurs, as

illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. This, however, is not essential.

The point at. which the rolls 44 operate may properly be designated the third forming station, in the embodimentillustrated in Fig. 1.

It is to be noted that under the constructiondescribed, the pressure disks or rollers 44 as well as similar rolls 54 later to be described, and the respective shafts -which carry said rolls, have their axes parallel to the axes of the tubes upon which they bear, and that the longitudinal drawing force is due to the outwardly turning conveyer screws 15 which, during such drawing action, support or contact with the tubes under treatment, and mainly receive the pressure of rolls 44. 4

For the purpose of regulating the effec- A tive heat of burner 41, to ensure adequate but prevent undue heating of the tube treat,-

'ed, the supply of gas to said burner may of course be controlled as in the case of any gas burner, and as an additional means of regulation and variation the burner may be carried by suitable adjusting devices illustrated in Fig. 1. These comprise a main supporting bar 40 extending transversely of and secured in any convenient manner to the frame of the machine, an. externally threaded sleeve 43 passing through and adjustable in said bar and having an axial opening of polygonal form into which is introduced a horizontal rod 42 carrying at one end the vertical threaded supporting stem of burner 41, said stem having nuts above and below the horizontal stem 42 by which to adjust the vertical stem and hold the burner at the desired height. Any usual or known support for the burner may of course be adopted.

Rotary motion may be imparted to shaft 45 in any convenient way. In the drawings '(Figs. 1, 6' and 7 said shaft is shown provided with a belt or band pulley 48 to receive a driving belt 49 which passes to a horizontal guide pulley 50, thence to and about a vertical pulley 51 keyed or otherwise made fast upon theextended journal 14 of one of the conveyer screws, thence I about an upper fguide pulle 50 and back to i the pulley 48 o haft 45 see Fig. 1

In Figs. 1, 6 and 7 are shown pen ulous presser arms 52 carried'by hubs-or collars loosely encircling shaft 45. These may be used in addition. to or in lieu of the disks or rollers 44, and are for the purpose of holding down upon the active feeding screws, the end sections of the tube under treatment during the extension and reduction in diameter of the softened mid portions of such tubes. The arms 52 will-normally, or when not thrown therefrom by an advancing tube, hang in vertical position,

but the armswill be swung to the position shown in Fig. 1 by such advancing tube un- 7 til lifted sufficiently to permit the tube to pass under and to be pressed upon by the lower end faces of said arms. The arms 52 will carry weight sulficient to give the requisite pressure to ensure effective drawin action of the active conveying screws, t is desirable in practice to employ both the rollers or disks 44 and the presser arms 52,

in order to ensure adequate elongation of the ,tube and prolong the, pressing action until the tube shall have become sufliciently cool to prevent bending or sagging of the heated portion thereof. End-alining boards 38 position the elongated tubes for the severing operation, as they pass to the rotary cutter. v

Between the rolls 44 and a succeedin pair. of presser rolls 54 similarly supporte and below the conveyer screws, are located small burners 53, thepurpose of which is to heat the screws at this point and maintain them at approximately the temperature of the tubes as they pass onward from rolls 44. This prevents the heated" glass from being cracked or broken through passing from therelatively heated portion of the screws to a portion which would, without this provision, be materially cooler than the tubes.

After being acted upon and elongated as above set forth, the tubesarein the form shown in Fig. 16 and in the lower or foremost tube of Fig. 7, and-are advanced by the conveyer screws to a point beneath the rolls or-disks 54 and above a saw 55, the shaft 55' of'which is directly below the shaft of rolls 54, as seen in Fig. 1. Shaft 55 is journaled in a pivoted frame comprising ra dial arms 57 and 58 projecting from a s eeve or collar hung to turn freely upon or about a shaft 56 carried at its ends in suitable bearings supported by the main frame of:

the machine. The depending arm 58 of said frame is provided with an adjustable counterweight which may beset to vary the location of the center of gravity of the coun-' lterbalance, and to-determine' the force" with which saw 55 shall bearagainst a tube car- 54 above it.

ried by the conveyer screws between the peripheries of the saw and the disks or rollers This mode of mounting the saw is advantageous in that the pressure of said saw against the tube may be kept sufpasses about the-other section of pulley 56',

and thence about a belt pulley secured to the shaft 55.

In cutting the tube the proximate ends of the severed sections are apt to be left more or less rough, and to remove such roughness and secure a smooth or fire finish,aburner or heater (Fig. 1) is placed in position to heat and to slightly fuse the surfaces of the severed extremities of a tube such as shown in Fig. 17.

The several burners here referred to are conventionally illustrated, and will be of any approved type or character commonly employed in the working of glass, and adequate to afford the necessary degree of heat to properly soften the glass at the several points where such burners are used,-Bun sen burners, oxy-hydrogen burners, or the like, being of course available for the purpose. As the conveyer screw or screws effect a rotation of the rods, tubes or bars advanced by them, such bodies are equally heated throughout their circumference in passing over or past the several burners or heaters, thus ensuring symmetrical shaping o'r formation of the articles in cross section.

As before stated, Fig. 1 and figures illustrating specific details thereof, are directed to a machine designed to produce from a single tube or rod, two medicine dropper tubes such as seen in Fig. 17. The invention is, however, applicable to the formation of bottles, vials, and other glass articles, through the addition or substitution of analogous shaping devices operating upon the samegeneral principles as do those above described.

Thus in Fig. 9 there is shown mechanism suitable for closing the annular space be tween the smaller ends of the concentric glass 0 linders of which thermos-bottles are formed: and for properly shaping and sizing the mouths of such bottles. This mecha nism comprises in addition to a pair of conveyer screws 15, one provided "with a cam projection 64, a rocker 61 having a vertical stem mounted to turn in a suitable block or journal for a roller 63 to be acted upon by cam 64 in the same manner as is roller 31 of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and f5.

Extending in the opposite direction from the arm just mentioned, is an upstanding arm or post threaded to receive the adjustable stem of a plate or head 62 adapted to bear against the base of the outer glass cylinder, and to press against the same, when acted upon by cam 64, and move the bottle toward the forming-plate 65. The similar ends of the glass cylinders constituting the bottle are previously heated in the same manner as are the tubes in forming medicine droppers and the like, so that said cylinders may be shaped or fashioned to conform to the shaping portion of-plate 65. This plate 65 has a slightly conical projection to enter within the mouth of the inner glass cylinder and curve said mouth outward, while the flat bearing face of said forming-plate serves to press the outwardly turned glass into firm contact with the corresponding portion of the outer glass cylinder. In this way, and through a rotation of forming-plate 65, imparted thereto by a driven belt passing about a pulley secured upon the shaft of said plate and mounted in a suitable bearing, the mouth of the finished bottle is made of true circular form and smooth or finished surface, and the end of the bottle is squared or made true and perpendicular to its axis. Interposed spacing strips hold the two cylinders concentric, as usual.

To ensure a proper bearing of the softened mouth of the bottle against formingplate 65 prior to the action of cam 64, a pair of disks or rollers 66 similar to the rollers 44 and 54 of Figs. 1, 6 and 7, is arranged to bear upon the outer cylinder of the bottle over a conveyer screw rotating at its upper side toward said forming-plate.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated modified means for pressing a glass tube upon outwardly turning conveyer screws to cause said screws to exert a pulling force upon the tube, to extend and reduce in diameter an intermediate heated and softened portion; or to press the tube upon conveyer screws rotating inwardly or toward each other at their upper side, to shorten said tube if softened in an intermediate portion. This mechanism comprises two arms 67 each carried by a. rod or shaft 68 and bearing at its outer end a plate 69, preferably brought to a V edge, to bear upon one or the other portion of the tube on opposite sides of the softened mid-length portion, the rods or shafts 68 being mounted in suitable supports on the framework of the machine. These plates may be of sufficient weight to afford the as 39, will of course be ing the heated end of"t e tube to proper.

pressure needed to ensure the application of a force exerted by an outwardly turning .screw of each pair, suflicient to draw apart the two sections of the tube being treated, on opposite sides of the softened midlength portion; or. additional pressure. may be exerted by slightly turning the shafts or rods 68 in a direction to press the plates 69. more firmly against the tube. f

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate another means suitable for shaping'the end of a bottle or vial to form a neck thereon. This mech anismcomprises a rocking lever 70 mounted upon a pivot stud or axle carried by one of the frame sills 1, said lever having an arm projecting in one direction from its pivot. This arm is provided with a roller 71 to be acted upon by a cam 72 carried by a convveyer screw 15, on which the tube to be necked is supported, and by which it is carried past aburner and delivered with its softened end in axial alinement with an anvil 74. Said anvil ispreferably of brass and is carriedby a post or support secured to the sill 1', with which post the pivot stud of lever 70 may conveniently be made integral. A second arm of lever 70, projecting in a generally opposite direction to the arm which carries roller .71, has journaled upon a stem near the outer end'of said arm, a shaping roller 7 3 which, through the action of cam 72 against roller'71, is swung in a direction to elevate roller 73 into the path of the advancing tube, causing said roller 73 to press against and shape or neck down the softened end of the tube, as indi'-" cated in said Figs. 11 and 12.

To prevent the pressure of roller 7 3 against the heated tube from lifting the tube ofi the conveyer screw, and to ensure the. formation of a circular and concentric throat, an-

.vil 74 is advisably provided with an axial extension concentric with the tube under treatment, so that the forming roller 73 shall press the glass against t e ing stem of anvil 74, and as the tube is revolved, ive to it a true and symmetrical shape. uitable means such asthe lever 29 of Figs. 4 and 5, or an end-alining board such as 38 having a beveled 'ortion such rovi ed for movposition to encircle the protruding stem of anvil 74, and permit it to be acted upon by roller 73.

It is to be noted that the cams 32 and 72 are located upon the circumferential face of the conveyor screw 15 between the oove separating successive turns of the t read, which groove receives, and a wall thereof advances, the tube being treated, as the screwv is' rotated. Said cams hencepass between the separated successive tubes and out of the path pf travel thereof as the tubes pam the respective cams 32, and 72.

protrud- Fig. 13 illustrates the application of my invention to a .machine for sorting glass tubes, rods, bars, and the like, and delivering them according to length, diameter, or length and diameter, to suitable receptacles, or to chutes 77 leading to receptacles pro vided to receive respectively, articles of different dimensions. This apparatus comprises a main frame similar to that shown in Fig. 1, and oneor more conveyer screws, which in this case may have a thread of un1form pitch throughout and be rotated in any con,-

yenient manner, as for instance, by the gearmg and drive shown in Fig. 1 and sufiiciently reproduced in Fig. 13. Beneath and closeto the under side of the conveyer screwis I I a platform 75 provided at convenient inter end of the machine, and with those ot progressively larger dimensions following.

The sorting screw or screws will be provided at intervals corresponding to those of slots 76, with an offset 24 such as above described and best shown in Fig. '8,'the oif sets of each screw, where two or more screws are employed, being located not only at the same point in the len th of such screws but also in the same angu ar relationto the axis of each screw. In'this way the offsets of each screw simultaneously arrive at the ar resting position over the respective slots in ever instance, and thus momentarily hold the ody moved directly over such slot and maintain it in perfect alinement therewith during the arrest of its travel.

In the structure of Fig. 13 as in'that of Fig. 1,the rods, tubes, or like articles are placed in a supply hopper having a bottom inclined downward toward the receiving end of the screws, and delivering its contained articles in the present instance, to the platform 75 and beneath the conveyer screw or screws. An opening at the lowermost point of the hopper, just sufficient to permit the free passage of the rods or other articles in a single layer, or one at a tune, to platform 75, is provided, and through this outlet the rods, tubes or bars pass and are advancedby the pressure'of those above and behind them until the foremost one,-and later succeeding ones, are in turn engaged by the thread or threads of the conveyor screw of screws 15 which,'being rotated in proper direction, feed the articles separated distances varying according to the pitch of.

the screw, .over and lengthwise of platform 75, with their axes at right angles to the axes of the conveyer screws. In this way each object handled is in turn carried over and into alinement with the slots 76, until each arrives at a slot the dimensions of which are the same as those of the object plus a slight clearance suflicient to permit the object to drop readily therethrough onto a chute 77 or into a suitable receptacle. This affords a very simple and efficient means of rapidly sorting the tubes to be subsequently handled and shaped by the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

If desired, a weighing device 78 such as shown in Fig. 14 and consisting of a receiving table carried by a counterbalanced lever, may be placed beneath each slot 76 of the sorting machine, to direct bodies of different weights into different receptacles.

Fig. 19 illustrates means suitable to the formation of bottoms or end closures on bottles, vials, and the like. This comprises paired conveyer screws as in Figs. 1 to 5 inelusive, for carrying the tubes over an intermediate burner 41 beneath disks or rollers 14: carried by a rotated shaftfi-45, and serving to press and hold a tube in firm contact with the conveyer screws while being ad vanced to and severed by a saw or rotary cutter 82. The severed sections next pass beneath similar disks or rollers 80 which, by holding the still heated tube sections in firm contact with inwardly turning screws, cause them to be moved endwise and pressed against the side faces of the rotating saw, such pressure, and the drawing action of the saw, serving to turn inward the plastic end of the tube until the edge of such portion is merged and welded into a flat bottom, completely closing the tube,

In Fig. 20 is illustrated a further adaptation of the machine, for making from a single glass tube of proper length, two medicine dropper tubes each having a bent nozzle or dropping end. In said figure the screws of the upper pair are both shown threaded in a left-hand direction but. turning in a right-hand direction, and the screws of the lower pair are both shown threaded in a right-hand direction but rotating in a left-hand direction, so that the four screws all tend to move tubes bridging said screws, laterally to the right. Both screws of the upper pair are provided with offsets 24 such as shown in Fig. 8, positioned alike on said upperscrews, and serving not only to arrest the travel of the portion of the tube crossing said screws, but to maintain that portion of the tube in perpendicular relation to the axes of the two screws which it-bridges. The screws of the lower pair are not provided with the ofi'sets 24, hence will cause the lower portion of the tube whose upper portion is thus arranged and held, to move laterally to the right, and .will maintain tic or softened condition to be bent as shown in Fig. 20, so that on severing the reduced portion at its mid-length, two medicine dropper tubes each having a bent nozzle or delivery end will be produced.

It is not material, in arranging the screws to produce this relative movement of the sections of the tube, whether the screws of each pair have threads of like direction and be rotated in the same direction, or have relatively reversed threads and be turned in opposite directions, provided always that the controlling fact be kept in mind that to move an object bridging a screw, by rotation of that screw, the screw must be rotated in a direction opposite to that in which the spiral advances; that is, a right-hand screw must be turned to the left and a left-hand screw must be turned to the right. This holds good whether the objects advanced be placed above and rest upon the screws, or

be placed beneath and held against the under side of the screw. The direction of the thread becomes material only when the direction of rotation of the screw is material, as whencthe rotation of the screw is utilized for effecting an axial movement of the objectiadvanced, in which case the portion of the screw which contacts with the body or a given portion of the body to be advanced, must obviously move in the direction in which the force is to be applied to move the object or the portion of the object in the intended direction.

Fig. 21 illustrates an application of the conveyer screws suitable to glazing or fire finishing the ends of glass tubes, rods, or the like, and thereafter-forming a single lateral bend in such tubes or rods, the driving gear and other parts of the machine already described being omitted in this figure. The framework and hopper, the conveyer screws, and the means for driving said screws may be essentially as heretofore described, though in the present instance there are shown and preferably used, three conveyer screws 15. The several screws, threaded and rotated in eonsonance with the above-stated feeding or advancing action of screws, will preferably have the same pitch of thread throughout, and this is perhaps essential as regards the upper pair of screws as viewed in Fig. 21, since the main or unheated portions of the articles treated must maintain their right angle relation to the axes of the screws by which the advance of said articles is controlled, during the bending operation. For the purpose of imparting the fire finish or glaze as stated, there are provided on opposite sides of the machine, heaters or burners 83 and 84, each facing or opposed to an end-alining board located at the opposite side of the machine, a short board 85 being shown opposite the burner 83 while a longer board at the opposite side of the frame from burner 84 is opposed to it, since the tubes should move forward with their upper ends as shown in Fig. 21, in fixed alinement until the articles under treatmentare finished and delivered from the machine. In this figure the intermediate screw 15 is shown without threads for about half its length, -or to about the point at which the tubes pass over a heater or burner 87, to be softened preparatory to being bent, since the outer screws 15 will maintain the tubes or articles treated in proper perpendicular relation to the axes of the conveyer screws until some force comes into play tendingto deflect the tubes from such position.

A short end-alining board similar to board 85 follows the burner 84, and another end-- alining board 88 set closer to the proximate screw than the burner 84 or the immediately succeeding ending board, extends thence to the delivery end of the machine. The upper screws 15, by reason of their conjoint action, hold the portion of the rods or tubes bridging them, against deflection from their perpendicular relation to said screws, but the lower screw will permit the lower ends to be bent relatively to the main portion of the tube, to an angle equal to that of the pitch of said lower screw. When, therefore, the tubes, heated by the burner 87 and softened at a point in their length intermediate the lower and next proximate screw of Fig. 21,

are carried laterally by the feeding action.

of the screws, the lower extremities of said tubes will contact with the end of alining board 88, and thus beheld against advance while the main bodies of the tubes continue to advance, thus producing in the heated portion the lateral bend shown in the tubes at the right-hand end of Fig. 21. As such bending takes place the lower extremities of the tubes swing to the plane of the inner or upper face of alining board 88 as viewed in Fig. 21, and ride along the same until the tubes are delivered from the machine. The feeding effect of the lower screw 15 is practically nil during the swinging of the lower or bending ends of the rods or tubes into alinelnent with the angle or pitch of the thread of said lower screw.

It will of course be understood that an offset 24 will be provided in each active conveyer screw 15 at each point at which the tube or other article is arrested for treatment, unless it be desired to hold one section of the tube and advance another section to effect a bending or shaping of the tube. In such case the screw or screws which are to hold one section of the tube under treatment will be provided with the offset, and the screw or screws which are to advance the other section of said tube will be devoid of the offset at that point in their length at whichthe offset is located in the holding screw or screws.

The operation of the machinehas been sufi'iciently explained in'connectionwith the description of its'structure, but it may be noted that primarily through the use of the peculiarly constructed conveyer screws, I am enabled to produce an exceedingly simple,

screws and extend into the thread grooves thereof sufliciently to cause said articles to be moved by said threads, whether the articles be placed above or below the screws. This expression is therefore to be so understood wherever used in the specification and claims. 1

It is obvious that the rollers 31 and 71 may either or both be omitted, in which case the cam 32 or 72 will act directly upon the arm or arms carrying such roller or rollers. It is, however, preferred to employ the rollers in each case because of the lessened friction and freer action of the arts.

It is of' course practical) e to make the two conveyer screws of one pair with lefthand threads and the two screws of the second pair with right-hand threads, and to rotate the two screws of each pair in a direction opposite to that in which the two screws of the other pair arevrotated. ,This would be advantageous where the screws are employed to advance the articles and separate them one from another, and the frictional action of the rotating screws is utilized for longitudinally extending or compressing the ranged in parallel relation and common 4 plane, and each mounted for rotation in proper direction to move laterally an article bridging said screws and extending into the threads thereof, each screw being also provided at a like point in its length with an offset in its thread extending partially around its body in a direction perpendicular to the axis of such screw, and serving to hold the article treated temporarily against lateral movement yet permit continuing rotation of the screws.

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising two conveyer screws arranged in parallel relation and common plane, and each mounted for rotation in proper direction to move laterally an article bridging said screws and extending into the threads thereof, said screws belng each provided at a like point in its length with an ofiset in its thread extending partially around its body in'a direction perpendicular to the axis of such screw, and serving to hold the article treated temporarily against lateral movement yet permit continuing rotation of the screws; and a third screw similarly mounted and rotatable, for continuously advancing another portion of the article bridging the several screws, to efiect a bending thereof and carry such portion out of alinement with the portion of the article temporarily held against advance.

3. In a machine of the character described,

' and in combination with an arresting stop,

a conveyer comprising two conveyer screws arranged in parallel relation and common plane, and each mounted for rotation in proper direction to move laterally an article bridging said screws and extending into the threads thereof, and to carry one end of said article against the stop; where by that portion of the conveyed article encountering the stop will be bent or deflected relatively to the remaining portion by the continuing advance of the screw-bridging portion of said article.

4. In a machine of the character described, two conveyer screws each reversely threaded and reversely rotated as related to the other, said screws being provided at a like point in their length with an offset in the groove of its thread extending partially about the g body of the screw in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the screws; whereby an article crossing said screws and resting in the grooves of their threads will be moved equally throughout its length and temporarily arrested in its advance by said offsets while the screws rotate continuously, the reversed rotation of the screws serving to neutralize the tendency of each to move the conveyed article axially.

In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyer screw journaled for rotation about its axis and provided with an oflset in the groove of its thread extending partially around the screw in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and provided also with a cam projecting from its circumference; a rocking lever having at one side of its fulcrum an arm extending into the path of said cam and at the opposite side of its .fulcrum a hunter; and an anvil facing said hunter but spaced therefrom; the conveyer screw serving to advance laterally an article extending into the groove of the screw, the oilset serving to arrest the travel of such article temporarily, and the cam serving to rock the lever and to cause its bunter to apply pressure to the article conveyed, and to force said article against the anvil.

6., In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyer screw journaled for rotation about its axis and provided with an ofi'set in the groove of its thread extending partially around the screw in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and provided also with a cam projecting from its circumference; and a rocking leverhaving at one side of its fulcrum an arln extending into' the path of said cam and at the opposite side of its ful crum a shaping member; the conveyer screw serving to advance laterally an article extending into the groove thereof, the offset serving to arrest the travel of such article temporarily, and the cam serving to rock the lever andto cause its shaping member to apply pressure to the article conveyed.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of two parallel conveyer screws journaled for rotation in proper direction about their axes, and each provided with an offset in the groove of its thread extending partially around the screw in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, one of said screws being provided also with a cam projecting from its circumference; and a rocking lever having at one side of its fulcrum an arm extending into the path of said cam and at the opposite side of its fulcrum a shaping member; the conveyer screws serving to advance laterally and equally throughout its length an article bridging said screws and-seated in the rooves thereof, the offsets serving to arrest the lateral travel of the article temporarily, and the cam serving to rock the lever and to cause its shaping member to apply pressure to the article conveyed.

8. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising at least three conveyer screws arranged in parallel relation and in common plane, two of said screws being threaded substantially from end to end, and the remaining screw or screws having a threadless portion of material length in the direction of the axes of versed direction of rotation of the outermost screws serving to neutralize any tendency toward axial movement of articles bridging and laterally advanced by the screws, and

the unthreaded portion of the intermediate axis thereof, said screw being further provided with a circumferential projection to actuate a device located in the path of said projection and in turn serving to operate upon the article conveyed, during'the temporary arrest of the travel of said article.

11. In a machine of the character de-* scribed, the combination of feeding mechanism including four cooperating conveyer screws arranged side by side in pairs and in the same plane, for simultaneously receiving and laterally conveying an article longitudinally of the screws, the two screws of each pair being respectively threaded right and left and arranged to rotate in relatively opposite directions, each of said screws having its continuous thread changed in pitch at a like point in its length to efl'ect a separation of the conveyed articles from one another at the point at which the pitch changes.

12. In a machine of the" character described, aconveyer comprising a plurality of parallel and similar screws mounted for rotation, at least one of said screws having a continuous right hand thread changing in pitch at a given point in its length and pro vided at another point in its length with an ofiset in the groove of its thread extending partially around the body of the screw in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the screw, another of said screws being 'in all respects similar to the one just described except that it has a left-hand thread; means for rotating a screw of right-hand thread in one direction and a screw of left-hand thread in anopposite direction; and means for heating articles bridging and advanced laterally by the screws, as said articles move forward, preparatory to shaping the articles when they arrive at and are temporarily held at rest by, the oflsets in the threads of the screw, anotherof said screws being in all Q respects similar to the one just described except that it has a left-hand thread; means for rotating a screw of right-hand thread in one direction and a screw of left-hand thread in an opposite direction; means for heating articles bridging and advanced laterally by the screws, as said articles move forward, preparatory to shaping the articles when they arrive at and are temporarily held at rest by, the offsets in .the threads of the screws; and means located in proximity to said olfsets for shaping the heated articles.

14.. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising a plurality of screws mountedfor rotation, at least one of said screws having a right-hand thread and another a left-hand' thread said screws turning in relatively opposite direction, serving to exert a drawing action upon articles bridging and laterally advanced by said screws in the direction of the axes of the articles conveyed, and also tending to carry oppositeends of said articles toward or away from each other, according to the turning of the screws toward or from each other at their points of contact with said articles.

15. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising a plurality of screws mounted for rotation, at least one of said screws having a right-hand thread and another a left-hand thread, said screws turning in relatively opposite direction, serving to exert a drawing action upon articles bridging and laterally advanced by said screws'in the direction of the axes of the articles conveyed, and also tending to carry opposite ends of said articles toward or away from each other, according to the turning of the screws toward or from each other at their points of contact with said articles; and means for pressing the conveyed articles into close and firm contact with the screws, to increase the effective longitudinal drawing force exerted by the screws upon the article conveyed. I

16. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising a plurality of screws mounted for rotation, at least one of said screws having a right-hand thread and another a left-hand'thread, said screws turning in relatively opposite direction, serving to exert a drawing action upon articles bridging and laterally advanced by said screws in the direction of the axes of the articles conveyed, and also tending to carry opposite ends of saidarticles toward or away from each other, according to the turning of the screws toward or from each other at their points of contact with said articles; and weighted disks or rolls-having their axes parallel to the axes of the articles conveyed and serving to apply pressure thereto and hold said articles in firm contact with the screws, and thus to increase the effective longitudinal drawing force exerted by the screws upon such articles. 17 In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising a plurality of screws mounted for rotation, at least one of said screws having a right-hand thread and another a left-hand thread, said screws turning in relatively opposite direction, serving to exert a drawing action upon articles bridging and laterally advanced by,

said screws in the direction of the axes of the articles conveyed, and also tending to carry opposite ends of said articles toward or away from each other, according to the turning of the screws toward or from each other at their points of contact with said articles; and a shaft overlying the screws, perpendicular thereto, and provided with disks or rolls to bear upon the articles conveyed and hold them in firm contact with the screws, and thus to increase the efiective longitudinal drawing force exerted by the screws in'the direction of the axes of the articles conveyed, and also tending to carry opposite ends of said articles toward or away from each other, according to the turning of the screws toward or from each other at their points of contact with said articles;

and a shaft overlying the screws, perpendicular thereto, provided with disks or rolls in the direction of travel of the articles and serving to prolong the pressure thereon.

19. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising a pair of reversely threaded screws; means for rotating said screws in relatively opposite directions; a heater'located in position to soften articles conveyed bysaid screws; a rotary cutter located in line with the heater, for severing the conveyed article in the heatedportion; and a supporting frame for said cutter provided with a counterbalance, whereby the cutter is held at proper elevation to act upon the conveyed article with a yielding force controllable by the counterweight.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- LEON JEAN EEOC- E- 

